1. Each contestant must be a PBRA member, with a current PBRA card to qualify for the end of year finals.
2. Non-member contestants will be allowed to compete with an additional “non-member” fee upon event entry at PBRA sanctioned events. The “non-member” fee is $40 for minis/juniors and $100 for open and professional contestants.
3. Sanctioned events will be held throughout the U.S. and must abide by all PBRA rules. Violation of rules by committees, members, producers, personnel, or contractors may result in a $200-$500 fine by the PBRA.
4. The sanctioned event’s committee must host each event with PBRA carded pick up men, judges, and contractor agreed to by the PBRA president. No exceptions.
5. All sanctioned events must provide proof of a minimum of $1,000,000.00 liability insurance, ambulance or EMS team, and livestock ambulance.
6. All PBRA sanctioned events must have at least $500 in added money for each open/pro event, and $100 minimum added for mini and Junior events.
7. Contestants must be at least 16 years of age to compete in the non-pro/open events, and any contestant under the age of 18, must have a signed parental consent form on file with the PBRA. The PBRA will host mini and Junior events for members from the ages of 7-18.
8. PBRA finals will be held for ages 7 and up.
9. All contestants will be considered “permit” members until the contestant has earned $1,000 and purchased a PBRA contestant card.
10. No contestants in the permit standings will be eligible for the finals, unless otherwise noted.
11. Events will be categorized/sanctioned for PRCA and non-PRCA card holders.
12. Contestants may be male or female and will compete under the same guidelines and stock.
13. Bronc halters will be provided by the contractor. Any bronc halters not returned will result in a $300 fine, and the responsible competitor’s earnings will not count for that event until halter is returned.
14. Contestants must present card verification at all PBRA sanctioned events.
15. The top 10 money earners in each event will qualify for the finals.
16. Cowboy dress code of cowboy hat, boots, long sleeve shirt, jeans, spurs, and chaps is required at each event. Safety vests and mouthpieces are optional.
17. ABSOLUTELY no mishandling or abuse of broncs will be tolerated. Any such action may result in a $200 fine at the producer’s discretion.
18. Any contestant under the influence of drugs or alcohol will NOT be permitted to compete.
19. Scoring-The ride and animal are to be scored separately. The rider will be scored according to how much the rider spurs the animal and body control. Figures used in scoring the riding events shall range from zero to 25 per judge for both bucking animal and rider. By using the full spread, the total may reach a maximum of 100 points.
20. Timing-All riding events shall be timed for eight seconds. Time starts when the animal’s inside front shoulder passes the plane of the chute gate. All riding event contestants must complete the eight second qualification limit to be eligible for a score.
21. Judges’ Official Scores. Judges in the riding events at all rodeos will submit to the Arena Secretary their scores for all events for that performance immediately following the completion of the performance. These scores shall be termed the official scores when posted and/or verified by the judges and may not be changed once submitted.
22. Drawn Animal Becomes Sick or Injured. If an animal that is drawn in a riding event becomes sick or injured before it is competed on, a judge must approve the animal’s inability to be used before it can be shipped or replaced in the draw.
23. Chute Stalling Horses. In all events, the use of prods and similar devices is prohibited except in the case of a chute stalling horse. In this instance, the use must be agreed upon by the contestant, stock contractor and the judge before the contestant’s competition begins. The prod shall be the handheld variety and be used only on the neck or shoulder. Use of a prod without the agreement of the contestant, Stock Contractor and the judge before the contestant’s competition begins in each event.
24. A Stalling Animal. A stalling animal is one that has been given one opportunity to leave the bucking chute with an open gate and then had the gate closed, or any animal that has required an electric prod to be used to leave the bucking chute.
25. Holding On to The Gate. Any riding event contestant who holds on to the chute gate, thus preventing the gate from being opened, after he has indicated he is ready will be fined $50 for the first offense, with the fine progressively doubling thereafter.
26. Cinch Riggings, Cinch Saddles and Pull Ropes. Contestants may cinch riggings, cinch saddles, and pull ropes from either side in all riding events. The back cinch belongs to the bronc rider.
27. Stalled Horse. If a horse stalls in the chute, then the spur out rule will be waived.
28. Tie In. Stock Contractor must tie in broncs if requested by the contestant. The person running the neck rope or pushing the horse’s head out of the chute must be agreed upon by the Contestant and the Stock Contractor.
29. Contestant May Not Influence Judge. Contestants shall not influence the judges by asking for a re-ride at any time. Violation of this Rule shall constitute a $100 fine to the rider.
30. Judge Shall Inform Contestant of His Options. If re-ride is given, the judge shall inform the contestant of his score, and an option of a re-ride. Contestant may refuse the re-ride and take the scoring. The contestant must notify the judge immediately of his decision to accept or reject the option upon learning which animal would be used as a re-ride and the time of the re-ride.
31. Discretion of Judge. Re-rides will be given at the discretion of a judge. Reasons for possible re-rides include the following: if an animal stops or fouls rider, Stock Contractor’s equipment fails, performance of animal is inferior or, if by Stock Contractor’s or Flank man's own admission, the Flankman did not flank the animal properly. No re-ride will be given if a contestant’s own equipment breaks.
32. Options of Contestant. If a Contestant is granted a re-ride under this, he may take the same animal for the re-ride, provided the Stock Contractor is willing and a mutually agreeable time can be arranged. If a contestant opts to accept the re-ride on the same animal, he must take the scoring for the re-ride, unless there is a foul or the Stock Contractor’s equipment fails on the re-ride.
33. Re-ride Animal Already Drawn for Another Contestant. If an animal that is drawn for a re-ride already is drawn for another contestant in that or a later go-round, the contestant entitled to the re-ride shall compete on the animal first.
34. Contact Between Arena Personnel and Animal. If any arena personnel come in to contact with a bronc before the qualified time has elapsed and if the contestant makes a qualifying ride, contestant will be given a score with an option of a re-ride. If any arena personnel come in to contact with a bronc before the qualified time has elapsed and contestant is unable to make a qualifying ride because of the impact, contestant will be given a re-ride, provided contestant made a qualifying ride up to the point of the infraction.
35. Inferior Animal Performance. If an animal’s performance is inferior and that animal is already drawn for another contestant, that contestant must qualify on that animal before re-ride may be given. If, in the opinion of the Stock Contractor and judges, that animal needs to be taken out of the draw, the contestant who had him drawn will be given the option of accepting the designated re-ride or drawing out (if in the first go-round).
36. Chute-Fighting Animal. If, in the opinion of the judges, a rider makes two honest efforts on a chute-fighting animal and is unable to do so, he may have a re-ride drawn for him.
37. Flank or Halter Failure. A bronc rider may have the option of a re-ride, or of accepting a score if flank comes off the animal, provided the contestant has completed a qualified ride. A contestant will only have the option of a re-ride if the flank comes off the animal and the contestant did not complete a qualified ride but was qualified up to the point of the flank coming off. If a flank comes off, rider may have re-ride on same horse. If halter breaks, rider may have a re-ride, provided contestant has made a qualified ride up to the time the halter breaks, and provided that the halter does not belong to the contestant.
38. Animal Deliberately Throws Itself. If, in the opinion of the judges, an animal deliberately throws itself, the rider shall have the choice of the same animal again or he may have an animal drawn for him from the re-ride animals.
39. Outside Help Used to Restart a Riding Event Animal. If a riding-event animal stops after an initial start, and any outside help is used to start it again, the contestant will not be required to qualify to be awarded a re-ride.
40. Horse Turns Out Backwards. If a horse comes out backwards, he will receive an option for a re-ride, or the contestant may keep the score.
41. Falling Animal. In the riding events a fall will be considered: An animal falling or stumbling to at least its front knees or slipping in the hind end where the animal’s hocks come in to contact with the ground. The contestant may take the marking or have the option of taking a re-ride.
42. Draw of Re-ride Order. Prior to each performance or section of slack, judges will draw a re-ride order, using the designated re-ride (if not already awarded) as the first re-ride. All notified turned out or doctor released animals will constitute the balance of the re-ride pen from which the order is drawn. Contestants given a re-ride will receive the animal that directly correlates with the order re-rides were accepted. Up to five hours prior to each performance, judges (or the Central Entry Office if judges are not available) may draw a re-ride order using available turn out/doctor release notification. At least two animals must be brought to the arena for re-rides (including the designated re-ride), provided there is one or more turn out/doctor release notifications. When final turn out notifications are received for that performance, all animals then at the arena who have been turned out/ doctor released will be drawn for a re-ride order, with the designated re-ride always being the first re-ride if not already used for an animal that is injured or that has already been shipped.
43. Procedure Where More Re-rides Are Awarded Than There Are Animals Available. If more re-rides are awarded than there are animals in that performance or slack re-ride draw, the remaining contestants who have not received a re-ride animal will be drawn re-rides from the performance immediately following that performance or section of slack which the contestant originally competed in.
44. Last Go-Round. In the case of the last performance of a go-round, if there are more re-rides awarded than there are animals in re-ride draw, then all animals bucked the last day of the rodeo shall be declared exempt and the re-rides will be comprised of all unused re-rides (both designated re-rides and turned-out stock) from prior performances and slacks in that go-round.
45. List of Available Re-rides for Last Performance. In the last performance of a go-round, when all re-rides from previous performances have been used, the Stock Contractor must provide the judges with a list of available animals from which re-ride animals can be drawn. These animals must have been in the original draw of this rodeo in this event. The Stock Contractor can exempt 1/3 of available animals prior to the re-ride draw.
46. Finals. At the finals, any turned out animal shall be considered the first re-ride animal. Should there be more than one turned out animal, an order will be drawn. If more re-rides are required, the designated re-ride(s) will be used. Should more re-rides be needed than those available, 1/3 of the animals from the short go-round pen can be featured, and additional re-rides necessary will be drawn from that finals pen.

1. Spur Out Rule - To earn a qualified score, the bronc rider must have the rowels of the spurs touching the horse above the break of the shoulders when horse’s front feet hit the ground on its initial move out of the chute.
2. Foul at the Gate. If, in the opinion of the judges, a rider is fouled at the gate, the spur out rule will be waived and possibility of a re-ride option at the judge’s discretion.
3. Use of Flags to Indicate Disqualification. Rodeo judges will use flags to indicate a disqualification violation. Judges are to also indicate disqualification violations by already-established hand signals.
4. Saddle Specifications. All riding must be done with saddles that meet the following PRCA specifications. Contestants not meeting these specifications will be disqualified and declared ineligible to compete for 30 days and subject to a fine.
5. Rigging. Three-quarter double, front edge of “D” ring must pull not further back than directly below center of point of swell. Standard E-Z or ring-type saddle “D” must be used and cannot exceed 5-3/4 inches outside width measurement.
6. Swell Undercut. Not more than 2 inches to 1 inch on each side.
7. Gullet. Not less than 4 inches wide at center of fork of covered saddle.
8. Tree. Saddles must be built on PRCA-approved tree and must conform to the following specifications with a reasonable added thickness of 1/2 inch for leather covering: Fork 14 inches wide Height 9 inches maximum Gullet 5-3/4 inches wide Cantle 5 inches maximum height; 14 inches maximum width.
9. Stirrup Leathers. Must be hung over bars; front cinch on bronc saddles shall be mohair and shall be at least 8 inches in width at the center but may be tapered to accommodate cinch “D” or rings. Latigos must be of leather only.
10. Standard Halter. Stock Contractors must furnish their own halters and contestants must use them, subject to approval of judges on fitness of halter. Halters must have adjustable nose bands. Standard halter must be used unless an agreement is made by both Contestant and Stock Contractor.
11. Riding Rein. Riding rein and hand must be on same side. The rein can only be attached on the bottom of the halter noseband unless fastening to the throat latch is preferred by the contestant.
12. Saddling of Horses. Horses shall be saddled in the chute. Riders may cinch their own saddle. Saddles shall not be set too far ahead horse’s withers. Either Stock Contractor or Contestant has the right to call the judges to pass on whether horse is properly saddled and flanked to buck its best. The back cinch belongs to the rider, but
13. contractor may have the rider put back cinch behind the curve of horse’s belly. The back cinch may not be hobbled.
14. Disqualification of a Rider. Any of the following shall disqualify a rider:
    
    • A) Changing hands on rein
    • B) Losing or dropping rein before pre-designated time
    • C) Wrapping rein around hand
    • D) Losing stirrup
    • E) Being bucked off
    • F) Touching animal, equipment, or self with free hand
    • G) Riding with locked rowels, or rowels that will lock on spurs, and/or rowels not dulled
    • H) Violating the spur out rule
15. Only Dry Resin Allowed. Dry resin may be used on chaps and saddles. Anyone using any other foreign substance shall be disqualified and declared ineligible to compete for 30 days; also subject to fine. The judges will examine clothing, saddle, rein, and spurs.

1. “Ride as ride can” for 8 seconds.
2. A standard working saddle must be used.
3. No PRCA rigging allowed.
4. No hobbling of one or both stirrups.
5. The horse must be saddled, as he would be for everyday ranch use.
6. If rope is carried on the saddle, it must be attached as it would be for everyday ranch use.
7. Night latch may be used.
8. No hobbling of stirrups, no binding to hold stirrups forward, nor can they be hobbled under the horse’s girth.
9. Flank cinch must NOT be hobbled to front cinch.
10. Stirrup leathers must be for a standard working saddle.
11. No saddle pads or blankets.
12. Saddles will be inspected before each event.
13. All violations will result in immediate disqualification from the event.
14. Standard bronc/hack rein must be used and provided by each contestant.
15. Bronc rein must be attached under the nose, throat, or around the neck as per contractor’s request.
16. Loss of bronc rein during the eight second ride will result in disqualification.
17. Hat fanning is allowed at contractor’s discretion.
18. The rider will earn points for spurring, body control, riding free handed, hat fanning, keeping both stirrups, and aggressiveness.

*ANY RULES IN QUESTION OR NOT PROPERLY INTERPRETED WILL BE REFERRED TO THE PRCA RULES/GUIDELINES FOR CLARIFICATION AND FINAL DECISION MAKING.

* THE PBRA HAS THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO AMMEND ANY AND ALL RULES AS DEEMED NECESSARY AT YEAR’S END.